Schools win trust status

PUBLISHED: 04:45 21 September 2006 | UPDATED: 09:55 24 May 2010

TWO schools could soon be supported by a 'charitable trust' after being picked to take part in a controversial Government scheme. Worle Community School and Westhaven School in Uphill are among 50 schools in the country to be selected to take part in the

TWO schools could soon be supported by a 'charitable trust' after being picked to take part in a controversial Government scheme.Worle Community School and Westhaven School in Uphill are among 50 schools in the country to be selected to take part in the Government's 'pathfinder' trials and become 'trust schools'.The schools will work together to set up a trust made up by outside organisations which will have a say in how the school is run.The organisations will be able to vote representatives onto the school's board of governors.The idea of forming trust schools is a central part of the Government's Education and Inspections Bill which is expected to become law in November.Four organisations have already been touted as potentially becoming part of the Worle and Westhaven trust. They are:* The University of the West of England's faculty of education and faculty of art, media and design.* The Human Givens Institute, an organisation involved in emotional health and well-being.* ViTaL (Values in Teaching and Learning) Partnerships, a charity which works with the University of Bristol.* North Somerset Council.Worle headteacher Trevor Bailey said: "We are proposing to work specifically with partners which can bring real expertise to the work of developing our schools. "Both schools are very clear this is not an attempt to leave North Somerset nor should it be thought of as a vote of no confidence in our local authority."We feel trust status could bring a new dimension to our work through specialist input and greater rigour in monitoring and evaluation.